$83 million transportation proposal aims to ease traffic woes through various projects

SAN ANTONIO - The City of San Antonio’s Transportation Committee approved an $83.5 million dollar package that will be presented to members of city council sometime this year.

Assistant Director of Transportation and Capital Improvements Art Reinhart briefed the committee on the seven projects that would be included in the presentation that would be funded largely through the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization -- a federal fund.

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The projects includes $23 million dollars to build an overpass at S. Zarzamora and Frio City Road.

“It's been on the list through the last several years -- it's a challenging area that we've known about for a while,” Reinhart explained.

Leticia Gonzalez tries to avoid the area on her walk home every day.

“You get confused because cars go all over,” Gonzalez said pointing at the intersection that includes multiple lights and rail road crossings.

“I walk all the way over there,” she said pointing to the next intersection. “Because of this corner, to me it's dangerous, look at the train, oh my god it's bad.”

The overpass would ease congestion if it’s selected and approved for funding.

The city is also looking at creating pedestrian and bicycle lanes at Roosevelt from St. Mary’s Street to Loop 410, for about $5 million. The proposed project would also include Harry Wurzbach Road from Loop 410 to Dove Haven Drive, at a cost of $10 million.

Road expansions on South New Braunfels from Lyster to Loop 410 and Prue Road from Cedar Park to Old Pure Road/Rocky Trail, would total about $20 million.

The project also calls for city wide pedestrian and bike mobility studies, as well as corridor mobility planning for about $11 million.

Other improvements include additional ITS enhancements to improve traffic flow for about $4.5 million.

Of the $83.5 Million cost, there would be additional expenses.

The city would be responsible for 20 percent of the cost -- or about $16.7 million dollars, funded through bond 2017, future fiscal budgets and future bonds.

The council is expected to consider the projects for approval, before the December deadline for AAMPO.

The projects may be approved as early as spring.

If the Zarzamorra overpass gets the greenlight, it will be three years before the project is complete.